NFL, Verizon team for redesigned, cross-carrier pro football app

NFL Digital Media is rolling out its overhauled NFL Mobile from Verizon (NYSE:VZ) application, consolidating product extensions and features previously spread across the league's own cross-carrier NFL '13 and the Verizon-exclusive NFL Mobile apps.

Available as a free download from Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) App Store, Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Play, Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Phone Store and BlackBerry (NASDAQ:BBRY) World, NFL Mobile from Verizon is optimized for subscribers across all major U.S. carriers, although only Verizon Wireless customers will enjoy access to select premium features. All mobile customers may view on-demand video clips of NFL games, as well as access to NFL.com fantasy football tools and information. Fans may also listen to NFL podcasts, follow real-time scoring updates, view team schedules and statistics, and shop for merchandise and tickets.

Verizon Wireless subscribers can also stream live broadcasts of NBC's Sunday Night Football, ESPN's Monday Night Football, the NFL Network's Thursday Night Football and the NFL RedZone network, which delivers every touchdown and key play from each Sunday afternoon's action. Verizon offers live NFL streaming for $5 per month: Beginning with the 2014-15 season, the carrier will also support streaming access for all games telecast on CBS and Fox, including playoff matchups and the Super Bowl.

Verizon first signed on as the NFL's exclusive mobile media partner and official wireless service sponsor in March 2010, inking a new multi-year agreement this June.

SportsBusinessDaily reported Verizon will pay $1 billion over the course of the new four-year contract, beginning with a $210 million payment in the first year, and also will work to improve wireless network connectivity at the NFL's 31 stadium sites. The operator currently pays around $50 million annually to offer NFL content, including rights fees, team spending commitments and media spending on league media partners. By comparison, ESPN pays an average of $1.8 billion per year, Fox pays $1.1 billion per year, CBS pays $1.08 billion per year and NBC pays $950 million per year. The broadcast networks retained rights to stream their games to tablets and computers, limiting NFL Mobile from Verizon streaming to smartphones.

Comments

Join 55,000+ InsidersSIGN UP FOR OURNEWSLETTER

FierceMobileIT provides tools, tips and case studies on how to deploy the latest wireless technologies in the enterprise. Join 55,000+ CIOs and senior IT managers who subscribe to our free daily email briefing. Sign up today!